BIZ MARKETING GROUP MOVES HQ TO CHICAGO

The national headquarters of the Business Marketing Assn. (BMA) recently moved to Chicago from Alexandria, Va.

The BMA has 30 U.S. chapters, and members in Canada and Europe.

The move affected only Executive Director Rick Kean. Through attrition, a staff that at its peak was eight was reduced to only Mr. Kean. But since the BMA settled into its offices, it has hired one person and probably will hire two or three more, Mr. Kean said.

Gan Avery, chairman of the 3,700-member, 72-year-old organization, says accessibility to the headquarters was a key reason for the move.

"By moving to Chicago, we will facilitate better chapter communication," says Mr. Avery, marketing and planning manager for Eaton Corp.'s automotive controls division. "It will also increase office accessibility because of the number of people who do business in Chicago. But the key thing is our ability to be responsive and supportive of our chapters by being in a better geographical location."